Lighting fixture



Nov. 26, 1929. T. J. NELSON 1,737,018

LIGHTING FIXTURE Original Filed April 12, 1927 2 sheets-sheet 1 Z IZU6'IZZLO7? a v feo cbre J. AJSZ W Nov. 26, 1929. 'r. J. NELSON 1,737,018

LIGHTING FIXTURE Original Filed April 12, 1927 q 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 26, 1929 1 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFECE THEODORE J. NELSON, 0F CHTCAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO COLONIAL LAMP & FIX- 'IURE WORKS, INC, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS LIGHTZNG FIXTURE Application filed April 12, 1927, Serial My invention has reference more particularly to a lighting fixture such as a floor or table lamp wherein the illuminating element is counterbalanced so that it is capable of elevational adjustment, and is based on my prior applications Serial No. 612,651, filed January 15, 1923, and allowed July 7, 1925, and Serial. No. 621,123, filed February 26, 1923.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide an improved adjustable floor or table lamp; to suspend the illuminating ele ment in a laterally offset position on a flexible counterweighted hanger, so that the illuminating element may be adjusted vertically and held in the adjusted positions without the necessity of employing clamps or fastener; and to construct the fixture so that it may be conveniently connected to a wall or floor plug at a distance therefrom without interfering with the freedom of adjustment.

The invention also has reference to a lighting fixture comprising a bracket arm having the lamp suspended therefrom by means of a flexible, counterbalanced hanger so as to be adjustable vertically.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an improved adjustable lighting fixture; to support a lamp on a bracket arm by means of a flexible counterbalanced hanger so that the lamp may be readily adjusted at various elevations; to construct the fixture so that the feed wires may be connected to a receptacle remote from the point at which the fixture is mounted; and in general to provide a fixture of this character which is simple and inexpensive, attractive in appearance and designed to permit optional mounting of the fixture in any desired location without the necessity of having an electrical outlet at the place where the fixture is mounted.

On the drawings Fig. 1 is a side view of the fixture embodying my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the counterweight, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the supporting cable on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. l is a perspective view of a fixture Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the counterweight on line 88 of Fig. 7 and Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views showing slightly modified constructions. v

The invention as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 is illustrated as including a portable support in the form of a floor lamp and comprises a standard 1 having a Wide base 2, whereby it is held in an upright position. Near the top of the standard is a laterally extending bracket 3, which may be pivotally supported on the standard, to which is secured, and preferably pivotally mounted to swing therein laterally in a horizontal plane,

the inner end of a tubular arm 4:, which constitutes a guide through which a flexible hanger is endwise movable. The hanger 5 is illustrated in the form of a flexible cable having two of the strands 6 consisting of electrical conductors, although any form of flexible hanger may be used. The other end of the hanger 5 has an electric conneotlon, as for instance, an electric light socket 7, 111 which the electric lamp or bulb 8 is secured, the ends of the conductors 6 being connected with the contacts of the socket 7 in the usual manner to supply current to the lamp 8. The socket is preferably enclosed in a combined socket shell and shade holder 9, which supports the shade 10.

In view of the lateral projection of the arm 4 from the standard, the lamp 8 and shade 10 are supported at a sufiicient distance from the standard to afford ample clearance between the shade and the standard. The inner end of the hanger 5, however, is supported close to the standard 1 and is provided at its lower end with a counterweight 11 for counterbalancing the parts 7, 8, 9, and 10 at the outer end of the cable so that the lamp socket and lamp and parts connected therewith may be readily adjusted by sliding the cable 5 through the tube 4, and are held in the positions of adjustment by the counterbalancing of the socket and lamprand other parts. by the counterweight l1. lhis counterweight 11 is formed in any suitable manner, with a chamber 12 therein, for example, 'it maybe composed of the half-sections 13 secured together by athreadedmember 14. The end of the hanger 5 is introduced into the interior of the counterweight, preferably through anentranceopening whichds provided with an insulating bushing 15, and an extension cord,16 is ledzinto the lower end of the counterweight through a similar entrance opening which isprovided with an insulating bushing 17 in accordance :with the approved practice. The conductors 66 of the cable 5 are connected in :thecavity 12 to the two conductors of the extension-cord ;16,-and the latter at its outer end is connected to the attachmentplug18, so that itcanbe detach- :ably'connected to any socket or :receptacle in thevicinity of'the lampyas fornexample the *base receptacle 19 as shown.

The counterweight 11 is prefer-ablyformed with an .annular :groove 20 containing a bumper ring 21 of'rubber orlother suitable :materialso'that'the standard 1 will not become-marred in case of accidental'contact of i the I counterweight with the, standard.

aWiththis construction th'e'device may be ilocated in ';practically :any tdesire'd i p osition,

:and1the extension cord 16 is connected :to a source of v electrical I current at any distance from the position of the damp, and the lamp 1-9 andsocket 7 sandrparts: connected-therewith maylbereadily; adj ustedztoany'desired elevation. .Also, it is unnecessary ;to'provide'an :openingthrough the standard :1 for circuit wi-res as in the presentrfiooreand table lamps and the construction of such 'members i s thus simplified.

As shown in Figures '4; fto "8 iinclusive, the invention'includes a support-which isshown herein as a wall' p'late QQWR lIlChHRLy'bG of any suitableform, and hasa guide" thereon in the form'of a tubular bracket arm .23 mounted thereon and bent inla semrcircular form so that the ends opendownwardlywith one end close -to =the wall plate and t-he'other remote therefrom. The endredges of'thei tube 23z-are *rounded in any suitable-manner,for example as indicated at 24, and theinterionof the tube is provided avith a smooth surfaceso that a cable may be zreadily slid through the'tube without injury. This bracket arm 2 is sohorizontally and'laterally:adjacent one, preferably its :inner, endto :the :plate122 by means of a connector 25, in whichit may be pivoted and which holds the zbracket arm a "slight distance away from the face'ofthe .plate 22 :termines the location of the fixture.

cured, preferably pivotally mountedcto swing and consequently a suitable distance from the wall 011 which the bracket plate is mounted. A hanger in the form of an endwise movable cable 26 is passed through the tubular bracket arm 23 and is preferably in the form of a somewhat heavy ornamental rope with two of the strands as indicated at 27 and 28, comprising electrical conductors.

The outer length of the cable 26 has an electric connection, as for instance, a lamp socket secured to the end and preferably enclosed in a socket shell and shade holder 29 to which any suitable shade 30 is attached, and the conductors 27 and 28 are connected with the socket in the usual manner to supply current to the lamp 31 which ismountedrinthesocket.

The length of :cable 126 nearest :to :the

EblitOkGbPlPttBQQ has a counterweight 32 on the end whichmay'beiinVthe'form of a tassel as indicated. This counterweight, inthe con *which the .end of the'cable .26 is inserted and clamped by means ofthe connectingbolt35, and in the lower end of the counterweight is another similarly formedentranceopening wit-hran insulating bushing 36, through whichthe end ofa'lampicord 37 .is passed. The interior of the counterweight between these apertures is suitably chambered as at 1381to-accom1nodate the connections 39, where- :by the two conductors of the lamp cord 37 and the two conductors 27 and 28 respectively of the cable 26 are joined-together. The outer-end of the .lamp'cord 37 is preferably vprovided. with-an attachment plug 40 which :may be connectedwitha wall or baseplugdl which may be located ata distance from the place where 'the bracket is :mounted.

The bracket may be secured in place on the wall in any convenientmanner, as for example, by nails or screws 42 which are 1inserted through apertures in the plate 1 and engaged in the wall.

lVith fixtures which have heretofore been -mounted on walls, it has been customary :to provideanoutlet at the point where the fi-X- ture isto be located and this,therefore, de- With my invention, however, itis-not necessary to provide an electrical outlet where the fixture is to be mounted, but the fixture may be located at any desired point and the connection made with an electricaloutlet-anywhere in the vicinity of the fixture, thereby zpermitting the user to changethe location-ofthe Xture when desired and avoiding thenecessity'of always having the fixture locatedina definite place.

Furthermore, this construction permits elevational adjustment of the lamp so as it .ma be convenientl ositioned to ive the best illumination tor a desired purpose, for example, if it is to be used as a reading lamp, it may be drawn down to the position to give the proper light for one sitting near thereto. it will also he noted that the inner length of the supporting cable is held away from the wall. so that the counterweight moves freely without coming into contact with the wall and at the sau e time is sufiiciently close so that it entirely out ot' the way.

in Figu 9 and 10 of the drawings slight modifications are shown in which, in order to mount the tubular guides or arms 4 and 23, the upright, post, or standard 1 or the bracket is provided with a circular or slightly upwardly tapered enlargement or vertical bearing portion l3, preferably slightly enlarged downwardly and formed with an annular enlargement or shoulder 44 at the bottom to support the sleeve or collar 45 of the bracket 46. The sleeve fits over the por tion 43 and has a screw-threaded opening 47 in one side to take a clamping nut 48 which engages the bearing portion 43 and by which the arms l and 23 may be held secured in a horizontal plane. The brackets 46 are, of course rigid with the tubular or sleeve portions i5 and receive the tubular guide arms 4 and :23 in the ends thereof.

lVhile I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, I am aware that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the principles of my invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electric fixture comprising a support, a guide on the support, a flexible hanger carried by and mo table endwise on the guide with its end portions depending therefrom, an electric fixture on one end of the hanger, a chambered counterweight on the other end of the hanger, and an electric conductor extending through the hanger with one end in co-operativc relation with the electric fixture and its opposite end within the chamber of the counterweight, said counterweight having an entrance opening leading into the chamber to give access to the end of the electric conductor within said chamber.

An electric fixture comprising a support, a guide on the support, a flexible hanger cal "ed by and movable endwise on the guide with its end portions depending therefrom, an electric fixture on one end of the hanger, a chambered counterweight on the other end of the hanger, said counterweight having oppositely disposed entrance openings leading to the chamber thereof and divided through the entrance openings and the chamber, means for detachably securing the counterweight sect-ions upon the hanger, and an electric conductor extending through the hanger with one end in co-operative relation with the electric fixture and its opposite end within carried by and movable endwise on the guide with its end portions depending therefrom, an electric fixture on one end of the hanger, a counterweight on the other end of the hanger, an electric conductor extending through the hanger with one end in co-operative relation with the electric fixture and its opposite end within the counterweight, and

an extension cord extending "from the said outlet to the counterwe1ght and detachably connected to the conductor within the counterweight.

i. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a vertical support, a horizontal connector carried thereby and extending outwardly therefrom, said connector having a sleeve portion,

a bent arm having depending ends on one side only of the support, one or which is mounted in the sleeve portion, a flexible hanger car ried by and adjustable lengthwise through the arm and including a pair of conductors and a cord intertwisted therewith, an electric lamp carried by the free end of the hanger beneath the outer end of the arm and having connection with said conductors, the inner portion of the hanger extending downwardly from the inner end of the arm in close proximity to but spaced troma vertical support to which the plate is secured for mounting the fixture, a counterwei ht mounted on the lower end of the hanger beneath the inner end of the arm and having the end of the cord anchored thereto and the ends of the conductor extending thereinto, and an extension cord having conductors extending into the counterweight from beneath and connected to the conductors first mentioned, said extension cord having an attachment plug at its free end.

5. A lighting fixture comprising an upright support, a horizontal connector carried by and extending from the plate, said connector having a sleeve at its tree end, a tubular inverted bent bracket arm having its inner end mounted in the sleeve, a flexible ornamental hanger extending through the tubular arm and composed of a plurality of strands twisted together to form a cord trictionally held in an adjusted position in the arm and wherein two of the strands contain electrical conductors, an electric lamp connected to the conductors and mounted at the free end of the hanger beneath the outer end of the arm, the inner portion of the hanger extending down from the inner end of the arm, a sectional counterweight in the form.

of a tassel attached to the inner end of the hanger and having co-acting concavities receiving the hanger, the cord being anchored in the counterweight at its end, and a flexi;

ble twin conductor having an attachment plug at oneend-and the other end extending through co-acting concavities in thecounterweight and connected to'the conductors of the hanger.

6. A lighting fixture of the bridge-lamp type, comprising a base, an upright mounted. thereon, a horizontal bracket arm fixed to the upright near its upper end and projecting horizontally therefrom, a tubular guide having its inner end mounted vertically in the bracket, a flexible cord in the tubular arm movable end *isetherethrough, said cord embodying conductors concealed therein, and an electric lightingfixture supported by'the'end o'fthe cord atthe outer endof the guide and having connection with the conductors, the inner portion of the cord extending along and closelyadjacentto the'upright, a counterweight on the lower endo'f'the inner por tion of the cord and into which the conductors lead for connection with an extension cord, said cord and counterweight being loose and free ofconnection'with the standard.

7. A lighting fixture of the bridge lamp type, comprising abase, an uprightunounted thereon, a bracket fixed to the upright near its upper end and projecting horizontally therefrom, a tubular guide arm having its inner end mounted in the bracket, a flexible cord in the tubular arm and movable endwise therethroug'h, said cord embodying conductors, and an electric lighting fixturesupportedbythe end ofthe cord at the outer end of the arm and having connection with the conductors, the inner portion of the cord extending loosely along and'closely adjacent "to the upright, a counterweight on the lower end of'the inner portion ofthe cord and into which the conductors lead, said counterweight being adapted to move along and within t'heconfines of the upright and cooperating with the friction between the'cord and the tubular guide to hold the fixture in adjusted position whenraisedror lowered, and an extension cord having electric conductors detachably connected to the conductors in the counterweight andhaving an attachment at its freeend'forinsertion ina wall socket.

8. An electric fixture comprising a portable'upright support,a'guide on the support, a flexible hanger carried by and'movable enclwise on theguide with its end portions depending therefrom, an electriciixture on one end of the hanger, a chambered counterweight on the other end of the hanger, and an electric conductor extending through the hanger with one end in co-operative relation with the electric fixture and its opposite end within the chamber of the counterweight,

said counterweighthaving anentrance opening leading onto the chamber'to give access .to :the end of the electric conductor within said chamber.

9. An electric fixture comprising a portable support including a base and an upright standard rising therefrom, a guide carried by an upper portion of the standard and oifset laterally therefrom at one side only, a flexible hanger carried by and movable end- Wise on the guide with its end portions depending therefrom, an electric fixture on one end of the hanger, a counterweight on the other end of the hanger, an electric conductor extending through the hanger with one end in co-operative relation with the electric fixture and its opposite end within the counterweight, said counterweight being chambered and'having opposite entrance openings leading to the chamber and divided into sections through the entrance openings, one end of the hanger extending through one of the en- 'tranceopenmgs and into the chamber, the

opposite entrance opening giving access to the end ofthe conductor withinthe chamber,

THEODORE J. NELSON. 

